Chocolate beet cake… who would have thought this from scratch gluten and dairy free chocolate beet cake would be one of the best things I've ever eaten. Yes. Ever. With beets!
I'm always on the hunt to make yummy things a tad bit healthier, without sacrificing the taste. Because, I've got to be honest with you, I don't care how healthy something is for me if it tastes like sawdust topped with a sprinkle of honey. And it doesn't do me or my family any good to waste money or time on foods that are healthy for them but are so bad, it's a fight and struggle to get them to eat it.
But, if I can make a recipe healthier and tastes just as good or better than the previous unhealthy version, than I'm so going for it. With being frugal and trying to use up the food stock we have on hand (which is rotated out so it's always stocked 6 Tips to Avoid Food Storage Mistakes), I've been putting our root vegetables to use as some of them are coming to the end of their shelf life.
Which brings me to today's surprise star ingredient. Hold your judgments when you hear it… beets. Yes, BEETS! And they my friend, make a moist, decadent, to die for chocolate cake, without a trace of dirt flavor to be found. I seriously had to fight my husband over a piece of this cake.
I first saw a version of this recipe in a little insert paper called Relish (here's the original recipe) with our local newspaper. But I had to change up a few things because I for one, do not like the taste of olive oil in baked goods. And I needed a dairy free option, so I tossed out the heavy cream, with a few other modifications.
The result is a thing of beauty. Like a cross between cheesecake and a truffle, wrapped in decadent chocolate, so moist it practically melts in your mouth. I'm not kidding.
I adore that it has a cup of beets in it because, while I like beets (steamed with a splash or two of balsamic vinegar on top), the rest of my family isn't so keen. This is a way I can use up some of the beets grown and harvested in the garden and sneak them into my family's diet… and have them begging for just one more slice.
The fun thing about the beets is they give the cake almost a dark red velvet feel in color. And come raspberry time, I can't wait to try a raspberry reduction sauce on top. I love how seasonal foods can make a dish brand new again. But for this time of year, it's beets! Never thought I'd get to say have your beets with chocolate cake and eat it too.
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Resources for Chocolate Beet Cake
To make this dairy free, besides the options I've included, you'll need to use dairy free chocolate chips, this is my favorite brand. These are the only SOY FREE chocolate chips I've been able to find and they taste just as good as the other brands without the GMO's –> Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Gluten, Dairy, nut & Soy Free
A springform pan, seriously, you're not a real baker until you have a springform pan because that is how you make this cake and all other cheesecakes… which means you need to invite me over for dessert! I share my recipe, you share your cheesecake made in this–> Baker's Secret Springform Pan
Coconut oil is the best thing that's happened to my kitchen since I don't know when. It's good for me, and it doubles as a lip balm, eye cream, and all around moisturizer–> Organic Coconut Oil
More Gluten Free Recipes
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- Grandmother's Date Bread
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Chocolate Beet Cake (Gluten & Dairy Free Options)
Ingredients
- 9 ounces or 1 cup plus a few tablespoons of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup organic butter or coconut butter for dairy free
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- 6 farm fresh eggs separated
- 3/4 cup sugar I use organic evaporated cane juice or coconut sugar
- 1 cup pureed fresh beets one medium steamed beet
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 cup almond flour or rice flour If you're not gluten free, you could use 3/4 cup spelt, whole wheat pastry, or all purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- Glaze
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Set up a double broiler (preferable to the microwave) to melt your chocolate, butter, and coconut oil in. Bring water just to a low boil and then set your bowl of ingredients on top. Once chocolate turns shiny stir and remove from heat. Return to heat and stir until melted. If heated too quickly, chocolate can seize, so I take mine off about two times and return it only if needed. Set aside and let cool to room temperature.
- Whisk together egg yolks (set whites aside in a mixer bowl) and granulated sugar until well blended. Add cooled chocolate to bowl and whisk. Stir in beets and flour.
- With an electric mixer beat egg whites with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Fold this into the chocolate mixture, careful not to over mix, just until combined.
- Pour this into a spring form pan.
- Bake 40 minutes. Remove from oven. The center will still look raw, don't worry, take it out. It will set up as it cools. Cool on a wire rack and then chill in the fridge.
- For the glaze, use a double broiler or the microwave to melt the chocolate with the coconut oil. Drizzle over cake or eat by the spoonful, whichever you like.
A question about the spring form pan. Do you prepare it in any way? Grease and flour it like you would a regular cake pan?
Have you ever tried using the sourdough discard in this recipe ? I know this is a gluten free recipe, but was wondering.
Thank you !
I haven’t tested it, you’d need to adjust the liquid a little bit to account for the water in the starter but I bet it would taste excellent
Hi Melissa,
I have a question in regards to the sugar used for this cake. I only have raphadura (sp) would that work and if so what quantity should I use???
Thanks,
Dona
Yes, I’ve only purchased evaporated cane juice for years and it works great! Use the same amount.
This sounds really yummy and I’m dying to try it. Thanks. Anthea
This sounds delicious. I’m renting a vacation home and there’s no springform pan. Also, I need something to serve 20 – 24. I’m wondering if it can be served in squares. Have you ever made it in a 9×13?If so, do you know how to vary the baking time?
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[…] a splash of balsamic vinegar. But perhaps our favorite way to eat beets (even the kiddos) is my beet chocolate cake. And beet brownies? Yep, those, […]
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve made this cake twice now and it’s been a big hit with everyone I’ve shared it with! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Yea, Becky!! So glad to hear. It’s going to be our Easter dessert. 🙂
[…] Chocolate Cake with a Surprise Star from Melissa K. Norris […]
We are tree nut free due to allergy, have you tried to make this with any other flours? It looks awesome!
Just saw the rice flour. Sorry.
I have a friend coming over for lunch on Sunday. Just found out she is gluten free too. This would be a great recipe to impress. 🙂 Yumm-O
Let me know if you try it. It was super good.
This brings back memories of my Mother. She always put beets in her chocolate cake because she knew I hated them growing up, then as an adult I can eat them any kind of way. My Mother loved to bake and I get that from her I guess. I miss her so much. She passed in 1998 ,when I saw this recipe it made me cry. Thank you for sharing.
Bea,
I’ve always held that recipes are living memories of those who baked them for us. It sounds like you had a wonderful mother. You made me tear up, too. Hugs to you!
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